Results 14,961-14,980 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The first phase of the REPS 4 payment will issue to the person named in the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the provisions of the relevant EU regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme, in order to draw down his or her full Single Payment, an applicant must declare an eligible hectare to accompany each entitlement. Furthermore, where entitlements were not claimed for a three-year period they revert to the National Reserve. The person named had initially established 41.82 entitlements,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The file of the person named is currently being examined in respect of eligibility criteria. It is expected that this examination will be completed within the next ten days and the amount of the payment, if the application is found to meet the eligibility criteria, will depend on the precise details of the outcome.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: 2057The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food laboratories carry out a broad and in-depth range of laboratory tests to support DAFF's requirements in the areas of animal health, plant health and food and feed safety. While DAFF laboratories have the capacity to carry out most of the tests to meet these requirements, for cost efficient reasons, some tests are outsourced. In relation to...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The deal I secured in the Health Check of the CAP negotiations last November is worth a potential €80 million in additional payments to farmers over the coming years. In addition, the increase in milk quota will deliver some €100 million worth of additional milk production by 2014. This is enormously positive for the sector and, while there are also elements in the package that I do not...

Written Answers — Agriculture Sector: Agriculture Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: At the Councilof Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels on 29 September 2008, the issue of Climate Change was included in the agenda at my request. I voiced my concerns about the challenge posed by the EU's Climate Change proposals for agriculture and the food sector in Ireland and throughout the E U. I reminded my colleagues of the vital role of EU agriculture in underpinning food...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 966 and 967 together. Teagasc has prepared a development strategy for the Irish pig industry, which identifies the issues facing the sector and makes certain recommendations. The 'Pig Industry Strategy Steering Group', which includes representation from my Department and all sectors of the industry, has been established for the purpose of furthering those...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: My plans for the development of the beef sector can be summarised as follows: advanced processing methods and product development; sophisticated and targeted marketing; efficient farm production with quality assurance; and better scientifically based animal breeding. Ireland produces over 0.5 million tonnes of beef annually, over 90% of which is exported. More than 50% of these exports go to...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I believe that the report of the Sheep Industry Strategy Development Group provides a proper framework for the future development of the sheep sector. While most of the group's recommendations are to be implemented by the industry itself, a number of them fall within the remit of my Department and the state agencies under my aegis. The current position regarding the implementation of these...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: 2057The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given only if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. The European Commission is currently undertaking a major review of all food labelling legislation. In this...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: 2057Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that Member States must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including poultry meat and poultry meat products, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the Member States to ensure that animal...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: In general, responsibility for control and enforcement at retail level of labelling of meat and meat products rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). My Department is responsible for the operation of EU controls on imports of products of animal origin under the service contract with the FSAI and in compliance with Community rules for the hygiene of food and feed. These rules...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The average annual yield of the cereals in Ireland is of the order of 2m tonnes, over eighty percent of which is used for animal feed. Ireland has, on average, an annual shortfall of about 550k tonnes of cereals per annum for use as animal feed. This shortfall is met by imports, mainly from continental Europe. In 2007, due to adverse weather conditions, there was a significant decline in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The first phase of the REPS 4 payment issued to the person named on 20 February.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The provision of such allowances is a day-to-day operational matter for each State Body under the aegis of my Department and as such, I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The first phase of the REPS 4 payment will issue to the person named in the next ten days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: An appeal by the person concerned for non payment of grants under the Hardship Grant Scheme is currently being processed by the District Veterinary Office. It is expected that a decision will be taken on this matter in the near future and a letter detailing the decision will be sent directly to the person concerned.

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The area for which the licences are sought is a designated Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site). In the course of assessing the applications a number of complexities have arisen due to the Natura 2000 status of the area. As a result further consultation is necessary with the National Parks...